# Giving to beggars **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323 "2021-06-01T01:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Delayed\_Reflex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/delayed_reflex/32/3172_2.png) [@Delayed\_Reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delayed_Reflex)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/81 "2021-06-02T19:19:40Z")
Agree, giving to shelters, food banks, etc. are generally the best use of your charity dollars and I regularly donate to both of those in my city. I volunteered at our homeless shelter a few years ago and our instructor mentioned that one of the most often asked questions that he got was whether it was OK to give to panhandlers or not. He was quite neutral on the issue, saying that it’s ultimately a personal decision - eg. do what feels right to you. Basically, giving a panhandler money had potential to help the panhandler, or to harm them by enabling them to spend it on destructive substances, and you’ll have no control which one of those outcomes will happen when you hand over the money - so giving to panhandlers is really more about satisfying the giver’s conscience than anything. It’s similar to people who travel to third world countries to help build schools or houses - it’s not an efficient use of your money, but it makes the traveller feel like they are doing something good in society as well as possibly giving them a personal connection with the lesser-well-off in life, and may grant them some humility and influence how charitable they are in the future. I see giving to panhandlers in a similar light. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/82 "2021-06-02T19:29:41Z")
I often give money to beggars because they are right in front of me, and I will feel slightly guilty if I don’t. So I don’t consider it any great act of charity or anything. A problem mentioned is I don’t use a lot of cash anymore, and most beggars don’t accept debit. I would so much prefer not to be asked in the first place. Very recently I was approached by a grungy man as I was leaving home depot. He asked for change, and I juggled some bags to scoop some loonies from my pocket. I turned to give them to him just as a police cruiser pulled up and saw me hand him money. Then I caught hell from the cops for a minute because they had been called for this beggar, as he verbally assaulted the last guy who did not give him money, and I was not making their job any easier. So, I guess cops don’t want us giving money to beggars, and I was annoyed by the whole situation. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/83 "2021-06-03T02:10:27Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > > [@Ynnad](#): > > > > He kept the fifty cents and then said to me in a rude tone, “F\*\*\* you, m\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*er.” > > I was once sitting at an ice cream stand on the beach, eating (surprise) ice cream… A woman in her 30’s approached everybody sitting on the benches, asking for change. She was dressed normally, looked clean, and acted politely, said “thank you” to somebody who gave to her. > > When she got to me, I said, “why ask for just change?–How about some real money–maybe about $50 today?” She looked at me,wondering what I meant----and I pointed to the sign on the ice cream counter: “HELP WANTED” > > “F-ck you, you m\*\*\*\*\*\*\*er. you sonuvabitch, what do you think I am?” etc, etc, etc. > > No, I don’ t give to beggars. > If they can write a sign on cardboard, they can write their names on the forms at the social work agencies . Years ago my one friend was back in Madison (Wisconsin) for the weekend with her family and they walked down State Street. Some 20ish gal asked her for money. My friend said “why don’t you try getting a job? There are help wanted signs in most of the windows here”. The gal told her very condescendingly “ **I’m** not working for a living. That’s **your** job.” My friend was all bye. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/84 "2021-06-03T02:26:17Z")
> [@lawf](#): > > But I always wonder about the incident–whether I give or not–for a good day or two after. Huh. I’ve lived in places where I never see a beggar, and I’ve lived in places where I see a few every day. I’ve never lived in a place where it would be possible to wonder about my interaction for a few days. Not unless I spent all my waking hours wondering about the plethora of beggars I interacted with. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/85 "2021-06-03T02:35:37Z")
Not many ‘beggars’ where I live, but there was a dude once sittin’ on the outlet to the local Kroger with a sign that said “Anything Helps”. Since I already had the case of beer open, I gave him one. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/86 "2021-06-03T07:05:51Z")
Heh. But it seems that begging _is_ a full-time job, and not a very well-paying one at that. How much do they rake in? Once I witnessed a woman tell off a beggar whose artificial sores were too obviously artificial. I did not stick around to hear the conversation, though. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/87 "2021-06-03T12:30:05Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Heh. But it seems that begging _is_ a full-time job, and not a very well-paying one at that. How much do they rake in? > **[Do Panhandlers Make $50 an Hour?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/do-panhandlers-make-50-an-hour/)** > > How true to life is the "wealthy panhandler" trope, and how much do they really make an hour on average? Quote from a DOJ paper: > Most evidence confirms that panhandling is not lucrative, although some panhandlers clearly are able to subsist on a combination of panhandling money, government benefits, private charity, and money from odd jobs such as selling scavenged materials or plasma. How much money a panhandler can make varies depending on his or her skill and personal appeal, as well as on the area in which he or she solicits. Estimates vary from a couple of dollars (U.S.) a day on the low end, to $20 to $50 a day in the mid-range, to about $300 a day on the high end. Women—especially those who have children with them—and panhandlers who appear to be disabled tend to receive more money. For this reason, some panhandlers pretend to be disabled and/or war veterans. Others use pets as a means of evoking sympathy from passersby. Panhandlers’ regular donors can account for up to half their receipts. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/88 "2021-06-03T14:18:17Z")
Going to say this before reading the thread, or even the OP, as it is a personal pet peeve of mine, but: Making up an entire backstory about a complete stranger so you may justify your not giving them money is nothing more than moral cowardice. Just own up to the fact you do not want to help your fellow man and don’t slander him with your guilt merely to make yourself feel better. It’s that damned simple, and you don’t make yourself a worse person for saying no. (The decision to give is morally neutral and situational - many times I don’t even have cash. But I don’t need to make up a story about somebody to rationalize my “no” response.) ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/89 "2021-06-03T14:26:46Z")
I sometimes give, but rarely. It’s more complicated now because I rarely have small bills. A few weeks ago I gave to someone, but all I had were 20s and coins, so I gave him my coins and apologized. He was very nice. ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/90 "2021-06-04T12:54:32Z")
Camps would be a good idea. Where they would have housing, food, medical care, counseling, socialization, remedial education, job training etc. and whatever other assistance they need to not resort to harassing others. And maybe some (paid) government jobs fixing up the hood, helping other indigents, etc. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/91 "2021-06-04T13:04:07Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > When she got to me, I said, “why ask for just change?–How about some real money–maybe about $50 today?” She looked at me,wondering what I meant----and I pointed to the sign on the ice cream counter: “HELP WANTED” > > “F-ck you, you m\*\*\*\*\*\*\*er. you sonuvabitch, what do you think I am?” etc, etc, etc. Something tells me that woman was not employable. Would you have bought ice cream from her? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/92 "2021-06-04T14:50:58Z")
I’m never going to give money unless I have some way of knowing they are truly broke and homeless. I am open to buying food or drinks though. Overall though I honestly just don’t want to get involved. I’m sure there are 100 different stories from 100 different beggars, but I don’t like being asked for things by random strangers. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/93 "2021-06-04T16:09:34Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > Camps would be a good idea. Of course they are a good idea. Where do you put them, and how do you pay for them? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/94 "2021-06-04T17:50:51Z")
I usually do, but not in the situation like in the OP. Those are organised gangs; the women and children and exploited, and I feel sorry for them (esp. the children) but giving them money is only going to perpetuate the situation. They also beat up (or worse) regular homeless people. I also don’t give to anyone who’s aggressive about it, or sits right in a shop doorway or so close to an ATM that I feel unsafe. That still leaves a fair few people; these days I never use cash, so get money out specifically to give to homeless people. One time last year, at the start of the first lockdown, a homeless woman I’d given money to and chatted to a bit saved me about twenty minutes later from being attacked by some street thugs. Man, that was speedy karma! > [@Folacin](#): > > Unlikely, but possibly they had already received someone’s carry-out and had no place to store anything additional. There are good reasons to prefer cash, chief among that it is portable and non-perishable. Yep. Beggars get offered more food than they can reasonably eat or carry around with them. And it has no resale value. I’ve been homeless, though I never begged because it was so unsafe. The people who are doing it generally have numerous problems and little hope; I don’t care how they spend the money I give them. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/95 "2021-06-05T00:25:13Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Something tells me that woman was not employable. Would you have bought ice cream from her? Well, “Rocky Road”, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/96 "2021-06-05T00:26:06Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > Camps would be a good idea. Where they would have housing, food, medical care, counseling, socialization, remedial education, job training etc. and whatever other assistance they need to not resort to harassing others. And maybe some (paid) government jobs fixing up the hood, helping other indigents, etc. With a sign on the gate, “Work Will Make You Free”! ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/97 "2021-06-05T01:03:42Z")
Really? Seriously? That’s what the Nazis did? Provided camps for people down on their luck to work so they could provide for themselves? I’ll have to reread my history books because that’s not what I recall them saying. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/98 "2021-06-05T01:06:31Z")
Uh, pretty sure that was his point. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/99 "2021-06-05T01:06:36Z")
Pretty sure we’re gonna have to start using tags, as obvious sarcasm isn’t obvious. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51225681408_cacde02159_b.jpg "2021-06-04\_08-04-53") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/51225681408/) This chart is /g /hj ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/100 "2021-06-05T04:31:15Z")
You might well be, but not giving to them does not make you an asshole. I can be a asshole at times, but it ain’t because I do not give to beggars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323.md?page=6)